metal roofs

the_grube

the_grube

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Need a roof this year. I'm considering a metal roof. One of the things about metal that would help offset the cost is it's ability to reflect UVs rather than absorb like an asphalt roof. My unfinished attic space and bonus room over the garage get hotter than blazes in summer. I have to run a free-standing AC in the bonus room to keep the temps from wrecking stuff up there.

I've done some research. The actual results that I've read seem to vary. Definitely helps to have a lighter color. Was wondering if anyone here has any experience, or maybe is a roofing contractor and can chime in. thx
 
let us know what you choose. my understanding is that the cost is high, and would warrant an expected longer stay in the house.
i had foam insulation sprayed into my ceiling roof joist areas on my 2nd floor addition, and thought that would help with both sound and heat/cold. i was suprised at how much i could hear the rain through that composite roof.
 
We investigated when we put a new roof on or chalet here in the Poconos - expect about 2x the cost of conventional. Also, be sure you use a very experienced contractor, heard, read that there are a lot of issues with improperly installed metal roofs. Might also want to investigate light-reflective shingles - should do the job and I don't think as expensive or as "questionable?" as metal.

Good luck.
 
Oh, and another thing to consider with metal is the slope of your roof and guttering - water runs down metal much easier than asphalt shingles, meaning you need greater capacity for your guttering (ie, more expensive) - will also overwhelm any guttering with less water than asphalt (no, I am not in the asphalt shingle business :))
 
whether metal or shingles, go with the lightest/most reflective you can, the difference in absorbed heat load to the bldg between light and dark can be significant.
When managing medical school facilities in SF, the interior temps during summer within a campus bld featuring a 30,000 sq' asphalt/gravel roof were always on the warm side even with a bank of 60 ton chillers running at max.
So had the roof coated in a silver reflective emulsion that enabled lower interior bld temps with the chiller banks running less loaded = savings in KW usage paid for the project in 3 yrs.
Later coated the other campus roofs as well, using white emulsion due to neighboring properties complaints of glare off of the silver roof, with similar results and savings.
 
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There are 3-tab fiberglass shingles that are rated for heat reflection efficiency, code in California requires them. Much better than asphalt, which I don’t believe they make anymore. Considering the cost of metal, suggest investigating the reflective foil you can put in the attic, preferably with an airspace between it and the bottom of roof. Then there are solar powered attic fans, I installed one of these:

Solar Attic Fans | Remington Solar

Find your next solar attic fan with Remington Solar. Reduce your energy bill while still cooling your home with a solar-powered fan!
remingtonsolar.com remingtonsolar.com
 
Almost 20 year owner of an installed metal roof here... Ours is a 5/12 pitch roof. We replaced a concrete 'shingle' roof.

Metal roofs are great looking, long lasting, and very expensive.

They are nosier than anticipated when it rains. If there is a tree within a 'stone's throw', I would avoid metal roofs. Debris and dirt will collect on the roof. Maintenance is expensive to clean and even a lot more to repair. There is no way to walk on a 5/12 pitch roof to clean. Have to be roped in all the time. As someone mentioned above, rain water runs down a metal roof at lightening speed. Even 6" gutters are no match.

We need some work to be done on our chimney. They have to build scaffolding above the roof to get to the chimney safely. Add $10k to the job.

We had a large residential and commercial roofing contractor do our installation. No longer in business.

Have them installed again? No...
 
Does it snow where you live? If it does are your entrances on the gable ends? Roof slides are a thing with metal roofs. Also the insulation provided by snow remaining on roof goes away with metal
 
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Robert Engleheart said:
There are 3-tab fiberglass shingles that are rated for heat reflection efficiency, code in California requires them. Much better than asphalt, which I don’t believe they make anymore. Considering the cost of metal, suggest investigating the reflective foil you can put in the attic, preferably with an airspace between it and the bottom of roof. Then there are solar powered attic fans, I installed one of these:

Solar Attic Fans | Remington Solar

Find your next solar attic fan with Remington Solar. Reduce your energy bill while still cooling your home with a solar-powered fan!
remingtonsolar.com remingtonsolar.com
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asphalt shingles are still manufactured and commonly used, fiberglass shingles both more expensive and more durable.
 
great info folks. I'm probably going to look at a light colored fiberglass roof and some of the other suggestions for keeping my attic cool.
 
I always say get into something thick. Get into a Big Thick Roof situation because then it'll be hard to RIP through by the elements. The various things HITTING IT WON'T RIP THRU IF ITS THICK.
 
JimTravers¤£a!!Travers said:
I always say get into something thick. Get into a Big Thick Roof situation because then it'll be hard to RIP through by the elements. The various things HITTING IT WON'T RIP THRU IF ITS THICK.
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of all the threads on this forum... I never once thought the T-Rex himself, big JT would show up. I'll have 'em put on 7 or 8 layers for a BIG THICK ROOF.
 
I dont know if metal is more cool? I know my shop bays which are uninsulated when i was working near the top underneath in the summer, it was like an oven. Couldn't believe how hot it got....
 
My previous home in northern MN had a metal roof that was installed in the 50s. It is still perfect today. The durability can’t be touched by shingles. I did have to repaint it once and the prep was a big project. Modern metal roofs shouldn’t need that.
Pros: durability, snow slides easily so the roof doesn’t get overloaded.
Cons: expensive, snow slides off- lose
insulation from the snow and you may not like where it lands.

Heat in the summer was not an issue on Superiors shore.
 
RCF said:
Almost 20 year owner of an installed metal roof here... Ours is a 5/12 pitch roof. We replaced a concrete 'shingle' roof.

Metal roofs are great looking, long lasting, and very expensive.

They are nosier than anticipated when it rains. If there is a tree within a 'stone's throw', I would avoid metal roofs. Debris and dirt will collect on the roof. Maintenance is expensive to clean and even a lot more to repair. There is no way to walk on a 5/12 pitch roof to clean. Have to be roped in all the time. As someone mentioned above, rain water runs down a metal roof at lightening speed. Even 6" gutters are no match.

We need some work to be done on our chimney. They have to build scaffolding above the roof to get to the chimney safely. Add $10k to the job.

We had a large residential and commercial roofing contractor do our installation. No longer in business.

Have them installed again? No...
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Korkers (yes that fishing boot brand) also has some roofing application sandals with three styles of pads…look into the foam one for metal roofs. Also, look into having roof anchors applied for horizontal lifelines and rope grabs…whether you clean your own roof and gutters or have it professionally done.
 
FinLuver said:
Korkers (yes that fishing boot brand) also has some roofing application sandals with three styles of pads…look into the foam one for metal roofs. Also, look into having roof anchors applied for horizontal lifelines and rope grabs…whether you clean your own roof and gutters or have it professionally done.
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6 roof anchors are installed. Getting to them can be challenging. I am aware of some shoes that help with grip. At my age and physical capabilities I hire out the cleaning of the roof. It is more expensive; about 3 times as much as a non-metal roof. Still cheaper than the alternative...
 
RCF said:
6 roof anchors are installed. Getting to them can be challenging. I am aware of some shoes that help with grip. At my age and physical capabilities I hire out the cleaning of the roof. It is more expensive; about 3 times as much as a non-metal roof. Still cheaper than the alternative...
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That was more for Grube’s benefit, as he is thinking of having a new roof installed. Glad you had the anchors installed. And, I hear ya on the age…I question getting up on my almost flat roof at me age. 😉
 
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RCF said:
6 roof anchors are installed. Getting to them can be challenging. I am aware of some shoes that help with grip. At my age and physical capabilities I hire out the cleaning of the roof. It is more expensive; about 3 times as much as a non-metal roof. Still cheaper than the alternative...
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two of my friends in their 70's, both fit, suffered leg injuries from going up ladders. One broke his leg sliding off his single level roof, the other misjudged a ladder step coming down from cleaning his gutters and ended up with a broken ankle.
I still swim a mile and ride 10...and four steps up is my self-imposed limit.
 
Salmo_g said:
My sister has a 6 pitch metal roof, and they don't consider it "walkable." But my BIL is 82, so there's that. I'm actually considering hiring a home handyman to come clean the gutters and apply moss killer to the north facing roof sections. Mrs. Salmo thinks I should.
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We have had an actual gutter installer (local small business) clean our gutters for past 5+ years. That includes the downspouts too. He also checked the slope of the gutters to make sure they are sloped the correct direction and amount. He also sprays a lot of the debris off the roof before cleaning the gutters.
 
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